Today’s devotion comes from 1 Samuel 7:5-11.

“Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah and I will pray to the LORD for you.”  They gathered to Mizpah, and drew water and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day and said there, “We have sinned against the LORD.”  And Samuel judged the sons of Israel at Mizpah.

Now when the Philistines heard that the sons of Israel had gathered to Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the sons of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines.  Then the sons of Israel said to Samuel, “Do not cease to cry to the LORD our God for us, that He may save us from the hand of the Philistines.”  Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it for a whole burnt offering to the LORD;  and Samuel cried to the LORD for Israel and the LORD answered him.  Now Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, and the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel.  But the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day against the Philistines and confused them, so that they were routed before Israel.  The men of Israel went out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, and struck them down as far as below Beth-car.”  1 Samuel 7:5-11.

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The following Scriptures give us hope that the LORD will not abandon us, His people, because the faithfulness of the LORD is based on “His great name”, His character and His pleasure, and His choice and His qualities. God’s faithfulness is not contingent upon whether or not man’s works or at least man’s will deserve God’s faithfulness.

“Then all the people said to Samuel, “Pray for your servants to the LORD your God, so that we may not die, for we have added to all our sins this evil by asking for ourselves a king.”  Samuel said to the people, “Do not fear.  You have committed all this evil, yet do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart.  You must not turn aside, for then you would go after futile things which can not profit or deliver, because they are futile.  For the LORD will not abandon His people on account of His great name, because the LORD has been pleased to make you a people for Himself.  Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you;  but I will instruct you in the good and right way.  Only fear the LORD and serve Him in truth with all your heart;  for consider what great things He has done for you.  But if you still do wickedly, both you and your king will be swept away.”  1 Samuel 12:19-25.

We notice that the faithfulness of the LORD to His people was not based on the faithfulness of His people. They continued to sin against the LORD. But rather, the LORD’s faithfulness was based on “on account of His great name, because the LORD has been pleased to make you a people for Himself.” 

Consider the strong language of the LORD in the following Scripture. “Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for My holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you went. I will vindicate the holiness of My great name which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD,” declares the Lord GOD, “when I prove Myself holy among you in their sight. … Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances. You will live in the land that I gave to your forefathers; so you will be My people, and I will be your God. … I am not doing this for your sake,” declares the Lord GOD, “let it be known to you. Be ashamed and confounded for your ways, O house of Israel!” Ezekiel 36:22-23 and 26-28 and 32.

As the following Scripture states, God’s faithfulness is based on “God’s purpose according to His choice”, “not because of works but because of Him who calls”. God has mercy on whom He chooses. “So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.”

“But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel; nor are they all children because they are Abraham’s descendants, but: “through Isaac your descendants will be named.” That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants. For this is the word of promise: “At this time I will come, and Sarah shall have a son.” And not only this, but there was Rebekah also, when she had conceived twins by one man, our father Isaac; for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to His choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls, it was said to her, “THE OLDER WILL SERVE THE YOUNGER.” Just as it is written, “JACOB I LOVED, BUT ESAU I HATED.”

What shall we say then? There is no injustice with God, is there? May it never be! For He says to Moses, “I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION.” So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “FOR THIS PURPOSE I RAISED YOU UP, TO DEMONSTRATE MY POWER IN YOU, AND THAT MY NAME MIGHT BE PROCLAIMED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE EARTH.” So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.” Romans 9:6-18.

“But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;  for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD;  you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.”  1 Peter 2:9-10.

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24.

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Samuel 7:1-4.

“And the men of Kiriath-jearim came and took the ark of the LORD and brought it into the house of Abinadab on the hill, and consecrated Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD.  From the day that the ark remained at Kiriath-jearim, the time was long, for it was twenty years;  and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD.

Then Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, “If you return to the LORD with all your heart, remove the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you and direct your hearts to the LORD and serve Him alone;  and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.”  So the sons of Israel removed the Baals and the Ashtaroth and served the LORD alone.”  1 Samuel 7:1-4.

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Today’s devotion leads us to meditate on repentance.

“12 “Yet even now,” declares the LORD,
“Return to Me with all your heart,
And with fasting, weeping and mourning;
13 And rend your heart and not your garments.”
Now return to the LORD your God,
For He is gracious and compassionate,
Slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness
And relenting of evil.
14 Who knows whether He will not turn and relent
And leave a blessing behind Him,
Even a grain offering and a drink offering
For the LORD your God?” Joel 2:12-14.

But, there is hope!

Repentance is a gift of God to His elect.

“The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth,” 2 Timothy 2:24-25.

Consider the following from the Canons of Dordt in the section titled FIFTH HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of the Perseverance of the Saints in which it is stated in regards to the elect:  “by his Word and Spirit, certainly and effectually renews them to repentance”.

Article 6.  But God, who is rich in mercy, according to his unchangeable purpose of election, does not wholly withdraw the Holy Spirit from his own people, even in their melancholy falls;  nor suffers them to proceed so far as to lose the grace of adoption, and forfeit the state of justification, or to commit sins unto death;  nor does he permit them to be totally deserted, and to plunge themselves into everlasting destruction.

Article 7.  For in the first place, in these falls he preserves them in the incorruptible seed of regeneration from perishing, or being totally lost;  and again, by his Word and Spirit, certainly and effectually renews them to repentance, to a sincere and godly sorrow for their sins, that they may seek and obtain remission in the blood of the Mediator, may again experience the favor of a reconciled God, through faith adore his mercies, and henceforward more diligently work out their own salvation with fear and trembling.

“He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.”  Acts 5:31.

“When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, “Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life.”  Acts 11:18.

“18 Then the LORD will be zealous for His land
And will have pity on His people.
19 The LORD will answer and say to His people,
“Behold, I am going to send you grain, new wine and oil,
And you will be satisfied in full with them;
And I will never again make you a reproach among the nations.
20 “But I will remove the northern army far from you,
And I will drive it into a parched and desolate land,
And its vanguard into the eastern sea,
And its rear guard into the western sea.
And its stench will arise and its foul smell will come up,
For it has done great things.”

21 Do not fear, O land, rejoice and be glad,
For the LORD has done great things.” Joel 2:18-21.

“23 So rejoice, O sons of Zion,
And be glad in the LORD your God;
For He has given you the early rain for your vindication.
And He has poured down for you the rain,
The early and latter rain as before.
24 The threshing floors will be full of grain,
And the vats will overflow with the new wine and oil.” Joel 2:23-24.

“26 “You will have plenty to eat and be satisfied
And praise the name of the LORD your God,
Who has dealt wondrously with you;
Then My people will never be put to shame.
27 “Thus you will know that I am in the midst of Israel,
And that I am the LORD your God,
And there is no other;
And My people will never be put to shame.” Joel 2:26-27.

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Samuel 6:13-21.

“Now the people of Beth-shemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley, and they raised their eyes and saw the ark and were glad to see it.  The cart came into the field of Joshua the Beth-shemite and stood there where there was a large stone;  and they split the wood of the cart and offered the cows as a burnt offering to the LORD.  The Levites took down the ark of the LORD and the box that was with it, in which were the articles of gold, and put them on the large stone;  and the men of Beth-shemesh offered burnt offerings and sacrificed sacrifices that day to the LORD.  When the five lords of the Philistines saw it, they returned to Ekron that day.

These are the golden tumors which the Philistines returned for a guilt offering to the LORD:  one for Ashdod, one for Gaza, one for Ashkelon, one for Gath, one for Ekron;  and the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both of fortified cities and of country villages.  The large stone on which they set the ark of the LORD is a witness to this day in the field of Joshua the Beth-shemite.

He struck down some of the men of Beth-shemesh because they had looked into the ark of the LORD.  He struck down of all the people, 50,070 men, and the people mourned because the LORD had struck the people with a great slaughter.  The men of Beth-shemesh said, “Who is able to stand before the LORD, this holy God?  And to whom shall He go up from us?”  So they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kiriath-jearim, saying, “The Philistines have brought back the ark of the LORD;  come down and take it up to you.”  1 Samuel 6:13-21.

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One could think that the LORD would generally be pleased with what the people of Beth-shemesh did.  First, they “raised their eyes and saw the ark and were glad to see it.”  Verse 13.  Second, they “offered burnt offerings and sacrificed sacrifices that day to the LORD.”  Verse 15.

But, we read the following.  “He (the LORD) struck down some of the men of Beth-shemesh because they had looked into the ark of the LORD.  He struck down of all the people, 50,070 men, and the people mourned because the LORD had struck the people with a great slaughter.  The men of Beth-shemesh said, “Who is able to stand before the LORD, this holy God?  And to whom shall He go up from us?”  Verses 19 and 20.

The lesson for us today is that we need to beware of thinking that we are doing a favor to the LORD that He will surely like and reward us for whatever we want to do in our worship of Him.

Or, to put it another way, no one can stand before the LORD, this holy God unless the LORD, this holy God, provides all that is needed to stand before Him.  

“For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” Romans 8:6-8.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9.

Salvation is a work of God alone, by grace alone. God handles all the points of salvation from beginning to end: from the beginning of “Unconditional Election” through “Limited Atonement” through “Irresistible Grace” to the end of “Preservation of the Saints”, the “U”, “L”, “I”, and “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation. (The “T” of “TULIP” represents “Total Depravity” of man). This true doctrine of salvation is more fully taught in the Reformed Confession called Canons of Dordt.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.  In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.”  Ephesians 1:3-6. 

“For who regards you as superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?” 1 Corinthians 4:7.

“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever.  Amen.”  Jude 1:24-25.

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Samuel 6:1-12.

“Now the ark of the LORD had been in the country of the Philistines seven months.  And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners, saying, “What shall we do with the ark of the LORD?  Tell us how we shall send it to its place.”  They said, “If you send away the ark of the God of Israel, do not send it empty;  but you shall surely return to Him a guilt offering.  Then you will be healed and it will be known to you why His hand is not removed from you.”  Then they said, “What shall be the guilt offering which we shall return to Him?”  And they said, “Five golden tumors and five golden mice according to the number of the lords of the Philistines, for one plague was on all of you and on your lords.  So you shall make likenesses of your tumors and likenesses of your mice that ravage the land, and you shall give glory to the God of Israel;  perhaps He will ease His hand from you, your gods, and your land.  Why then do you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts?  When He had severely dealt with them, did they not allow the people to go, and they departed?  Now therefore, take and prepare a new cart and two milch cows on which there has never been a yoke;  and hitch the cows to the cart and take their calves home, away from them.  Take the ark of the LORD and place it on the cart;  and put the articles of gold which you return to Him as a guilt offering in a box by its side.  Then send it away that it may go.  Watch, if it goes up by the way of its own territory to Beth-shemesh, then He has done us this great evil.  But if not, then we will know that it was not His hand that struck us;  it happened to us by chance.”

Then the men did so, and took two milch cows and hitched them to the cart, and shut up their calves at home.  They put the ark of the LORD on the cart, and the box with the golden mice and the likenesses of their tumors.  And the cows took the straight way in the direction of Beth-shemesh;  they went along the highway, lowing as they went, and did not turn aside to the right or to the left.  And the lords of the Philistines followed them to the border of Beth-shemesh.”  1 Samuel 6:1-12.

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The Philistines were focused on doing what they could to appease God to try to motivate God to stop His plague against them.

“So you shall make likenesses of your tumors and likenesses of your mice that ravage the land, and you shall give glory to the God of Israel;  perhaps He will ease His hand from you, your gods, and your land.”  Verse 5.

There was no evidence that they felt guilty and were repentant for their wickedness such as their worship of Dagon or what they did to Israel. 

But, to a certain extent they did fear the LORD enough to do what they did.  Only God knows the secrets of their heart.  Only God will judge them righteously both temporarily during their lives on earth and eternally after their death.  

Today’s Scripture leads us to meditate on the following Scriptures.  

“There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek, but glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.  For there is no partiality with God.

For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law, and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law;  for it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified.  For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them, on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.”  Romans 2:9-16.

“Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.  If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?  For even sinners love those who love them.  If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you?  For even sinners do the same.  If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you?  Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount.  But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return;  and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High;  for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.  Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”  Matthew 7:31-36.

Although it is possible that the LORD may have eased up His hand against the Philistines by at least not continuing the plague against them, and so to speak using the language above was “kind to ungrateful and evil men”, that does not necessarily mean that He forgave them or that He would not punish them later during their time on earth or that He would not punish them eternally after their death. 

“The conclusion, when all has been heard, is:  fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person.  For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.”  Ecclesiastes 12:13-14.

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Samuel chapter 5.

“Now the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.  Then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it to the house of Dagon and set it by Dagon.  When the Ashdodites arose early the next morning, behold, Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD.  So they took Dagon and set him in his place again.  But when they arose early the next morning, behold, Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD.  And the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off on the threshold;  only the trunk of Dagon was left to him.  Therefore neither the priests of Dagon nor all who enter Dagon’s house tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day.

Now the hand of the LORD was heavy on the Ashdodites, and He ravaged them and smote them with tumors, both Ashdod and its territories.  When the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, “The ark of the God of Israel must not remain with us, for His hand is severe on us and on Dagon our god.”  So they sent and gathered all the lords of the Philistines to them and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?”  And they said, “Let the ark of the God of Israel be brought around to Gath.”  And they brought the ark of the God of Israel around.  After they had brought it around, the hand of the LORD was against the city with very great confusion;  and He smote the men of the city, both young and old, so that tumors broke out on them.  So they sent the ark of God to Ekron.  And as the ark of God came to Ekron the Ekronites cried out, saying, “They have brought the ark of the God of Israel around to us, to kill us and our people.”  They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the Philistines and said, “Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it return to its own place, so that it will not kill us and our people.”  For there was a deadly confusion throughout the city;  the hand of God was very heavy there.  And the men who did not die were smitten with tumors and the cry of the city went up to heaven.”  1 Samuel chapter 5.

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“The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked,
But He blesses the dwelling of the righteous.” Proverbs 3:33.

“The wicked are overthrown and are no more,
But the house of the righteous will stand.” Proverbs 12:7.

“God is a righteous judge,
And a God who has indignation every day.” Psalm 7:11.

“4 For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness;
No evil dwells with You.
5 The boastful shall not stand before Your eyes;
You hate all who do iniquity.
6 You destroy those who speak falsehood;
The LORD abhors the man of bloodshed and deceit.” Psalm 5:4-6.

“Upon the wicked He will rain snares;
Fire and brimstone and burning wind will be the portion of their cup.” Psalm 11:6.

“6 A senseless man has no knowledge,
Nor does a stupid man understand this:
7 That when the wicked sprouted up like grass
And all who did iniquity flourished,
It was only that they might be destroyed forevermore.
8 But You, O LORD, are on high forever.
9 For, behold, Your enemies, O LORD,
For, behold, Your enemies will perish;
All who do iniquity will be scattered.” Psalm 92:6-9.

“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?  Do not be deceived;  neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.”  1 Corinthians 6:9-10.  

But, there is hope!

In the very next verse to the above-stated 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, we read the following.   

“Such were some of you;  but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.”  1 Corinthians 6:11.

By the forgiveness and the lovingkindness of the LORD, we can be in the presence of the LORD. 

“In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the LORD sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple.  Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings:  with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.  And one called out to another and said,

“Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts,
The whole earth is full of His glory.”

And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke. Then I said,

“Woe is me, for I am ruined!
Because I am a man of unclean lips,
And I live among a people of unclean lips;
For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.”

Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar with tongs.  He touched my mouth with it and said, “Behold, this has touched your lips;  and your iniquity is taken away and your sin is forgiven.”  Isaiah 6:1-7.

In the very next verse to the above-stated Psalm 5:4-6, we read the following.   

“But as for me, by Your abundant lovingkindness I will enter Your house,
At Your holy temple I will bow in reverence for You.” Psalm 5:7.

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Samuel chapter 4.

“Thus the word of Samuel came to all Israel.  Now Israel went out to meet the Philistines in battle and camped beside Ebenezer while the Philistines camped in Aphek.  The Philistines drew up in battle array to meet Israel.  When the battle spread, Israel was defeated before the Philistines who killed about four thousand men on the battlefield.  When the people came into the camp, the elders of Israel said, “Why has the LORD defeated us today before the Philistines?  Let us take to ourselves from Shiloh the ark of the covenant of the LORD, that it may come among us and deliver us from the power of our enemies.”  So the people sent to Shiloh, and from there they carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts who sits above the cherubim;  and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

As the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth resounded.  When the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, “What does the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews mean?”  Then they understood that the ark of the LORD had come into the camp.  The Philistines were afraid, for they said, “God has come into the camp.”  And they said, “Woe to us!  For nothing like this has happened before.  Woe to us!  Who shall deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods?  These are the gods who smote the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the wilderness.  Take courage and be men, O Philistines, or you will become slaves to the Hebrews, as they have been slaves to you; therefore, be men and fight.”

So the Philistines fought and Israel was defeated, and every man fled to his tent;  and the slaughter was very great, for there fell of Israel thirty thousand foot soldiers.  And the ark of God was taken;  and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died.

Now a man of Benjamin ran from the battle line and came to Shiloh the same day with his clothes torn and dust on his head.  When he came, behold, Eli was sitting on his seat by the road eagerly watching, because his heart was trembling for the ark of God.  So the man came to tell it in the city, and all the city cried out.  When Eli heard the noise of the outcry, he said, “What does the noise of this commotion mean?”  Then the man came hurriedly and told Eli.  Now Eli was ninety-eight years old, and his eyes were set so that he could not see.  The man said to Eli, “I am the one who came from the battle line.  Indeed, I escaped from the battle line today.”  And he said, “How did things go, my son?”  Then the one who brought the news replied, “Israel has fled before the Philistines and there has also been a great slaughter among the people, and your two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God has been taken.”  When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell off the seat backward beside the gate, and his neck was broken and he died, for he was old and heavy.  Thus he judged Israel forty years.

Now his daughter-in-law, Phinehas’s wife, was pregnant and about to give birth;  and when she heard the news that the ark of God was taken and that her father-in-law and her husband had died, she kneeled down and gave birth, for her pains came upon her.  And about the time of her death the women who stood by her said to her, “Do not be afraid, for you have given birth to a son.”  But she did not answer or pay attention.  And she called the boy Ichabod, saying, “The glory has departed from Israel,” because the ark of God was taken and because of her father-in-law and her husband.  She said, “The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God was taken.”  1 Samuel chapter 4.

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In today’s Scripture, we see the fulfillment of the prophecy of the LORD against Eli, Hophni and Phinehas.

“This will be the sign to you which will come concerning your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas:  on the same day both of them will die.”  1 Samuel 2:34.

But, there was hope in the very next verse of the the prophecy of the LORD! 

“But I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest who will do according to what is in My heart and in My soul;  and I will build him an enduring house, and he will walk before My anointed always.”  1 Samuel 2:35.  

The lesson for us today is that when we experience tribulations, we can remember more of God’s word and take hope.

“5 I wait for the LORD, my soul does wait,
And in His word do I hope.
6 My soul waits for the LORD
More than the watchmen for the morning;
Indeed, more than the watchmen for the morning.
7 O Israel, hope in the LORD;
For with the LORD there is lovingkindness,
And with Him is abundant redemption.
8 And He will redeem Israel
From all his iniquities.” Psalm 130:5-8.

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.  Peace I leave with you;  My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.  Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.”  John 14:26-27.

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Samuel 3:10-18.

“Then the LORD came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel!  Samuel!”  And Samuel said, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.”  The LORD said to Samuel, “Behold, I am about to do a thing in Israel at which both ears of everyone who hears it will tingle.  In that day I will carry out against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end.  For I have told him that I am about to judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knew, because his sons brought a curse on themselves and he did not rebuke them.  Therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever.”

So Samuel lay down until morning.  Then he opened the doors of the house of the LORD.  But Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli.  Then Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son.”  And he said, “Here I am.”  He said, “What is the word that He spoke to you?  Please do not hide it from me.  May God do so to you, and more also, if you hide anything from me of all the words that He spoke to you.”  So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him.  And he said, “It is the LORD;  let Him do what seems good to Him.”  1 Samuel 3:10-18.

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Eli declared the sovereignty of the LORD in spite of the prophecy of the LORD against him.  This is thought-provoking, not as to any quality of Eli, but as to the basis of the sovereignty of the LORD, namely “what seems good to Him.” 

“But our God is in the heavens;
He does whatever He pleases.” Psalm 115:3.

“9 “Remember the former things long past,
For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is no one like Me,
10 Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things which have not been done,
Saying, ‘My purpose will be established,
And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’;
11 Calling a bird of prey from the east,
The man of My purpose from a far country.
Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass.
I have planned it, surely I will do it.” Isaiah 46:9-11.

Man thinks that the world revolves around him.  But, the world revolves around God.  God does “what seems good to Him.”  

“He does whatever He pleases.”  

God continues to declare and say throughout all time, even before things were done:  “My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure”.

The LORD’s sovereignty rules even over salvation.  “For He says to Moses, “I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION.”  So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.”  Romans 9:15-16.

“The LORD has established His throne in the heavens,
And His sovereignty rules over all.” Psalm 103:19.

And, that is good that the sovereignty of the LORD rules over all, because God is good and perfect.

Consider the following from the Belgic Confession.

Article 1: That there is One Only God.

We all believe with the heart, and confess with the mouth, that there is one only simple and spiritual Being, which we call God; and that he is eternal, incomprehensible, invisible, immutable, infinite, almighty, perfectly wise, just, good, and the overflowing fountain of all good.

“The Rock! His work is perfect,
For all His ways are just;
A God of faithfulness and without injustice,
Righteous and upright is He.” Deuteronomy 32:4.

“For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.”  Hebrews 10:14. 

“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 1:6.

“Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”  That is, we will be perfect, not because we should try harder to follow the example of our heavenly Father, but rather, we will be perfect because of the sovereignty of the LORD over everything, including His children.  

“Thus says the LORD, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches;  but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth;  for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD.”  Jeremiah 9:23-24.

“The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice;
Let the many islands be glad.
2 Clouds and thick darkness surround Him;
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.” Psalm 97:1-2.

“He loves righteousness and justice;
The earth is full of the lovingkindness of the LORD.” Psalm 33:5.

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Samuel 3:1-9.

“Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD before Eli.  And word from the LORD was rare in those days, visions were infrequent.

It happened at that time as Eli was lying down in his place (now his eyesight had begun to grow dim and he could not see well),  and the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD where the ark of God was, that the LORD called Samuel;  and he said, “Here I am.”  Then he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.”  But he said, “I did not call, lie down again.”  So he went and lay down.  The LORD called yet again, “Samuel!”  So Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.”  But he answered, “I did not call, my son, lie down again.”  Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, nor had the word of the LORD yet been revealed to him.  So the LORD called Samuel again for the third time.  And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.”  Then Eli discerned that the LORD was calling the boy.  And Eli said to Samuel, “Go lie down, and it shall be if He calls you, that you shall say, ‘Speak, LORD, for Your servant is listening.’”  So Samuel went and lay down in his place.”  1 Samuel 3:1-9.

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It is so sad for us to read in the first verse that “word from the LORD was rare in those days, visions were infrequent.”

But, how joyful it is for us today that we have all the words of the LORD in the Bible!

“Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105.

“He who gives attention to the word will find good,
And blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.” Proverbs 16:20.

“2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
3 He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season
And its leaf does not wither;
And in whatever he does, he prospers.” Psalm 1:2-3.

So, how can we better listen to the LORD?

Consider the following Scriptures.

“And He was saying to them, “Take care what you listen to.  …”  Mark 4:24. 

There is a lot of unprofitable noise from the TV, the computer, the cell phone, and people.  It can distract us from reading God’s word.  At worst, it contradicts what we read from God’s word. 

“Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village;  and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home.  She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word.  But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone?  Then tell her to help me.”  But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things;  but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”  Luke 10:38-42.

We think it is good to be busy.  When someone asks how we are doing, we proudly say:  “I am so busy!“, as if it is a badge of honor.

But, what does our Lord say?  

“Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things;  but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part (sitting at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word), which shall not be taken away from her.” 

“17 Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel,

“I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to profit,
Who leads you in the way you should go.
18 “If only you had paid attention to My commandments!
Then your well-being would have been like a river,
And your righteousness like the waves of the sea.
19 “Your descendants would have been like the sand,
And your offspring like its grains;
Their name would never be cut off or destroyed from My presence.” Isaiah 48:17-19.

“8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go;
I will counsel you with My eye upon you.
9 Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding,
Whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check,
Otherwise they will not come near to you.
10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked,
But he who trusts in the LORD, lovingkindness shall surround him.
11 Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous ones;
And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.” Psalm 32:8-11.

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Samuel 2:27-36.

“Then a man of God came to Eli and said to him, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Did I not indeed reveal Myself to the house of your father when they were in Egypt in bondage to Pharaoh’s house?  Did I not choose them from all the tribes of Israel to be My priests, to go up to My altar, to burn incense, to carry an ephod before Me;  and did I not give to the house of your father all the fire offerings of the sons of Israel?  Why do you kick at My sacrifice and at My offering which I have commanded in My dwelling, and honor your sons above Me, by making yourselves fat with the choicest of every offering of My people Israel?’  Therefore the LORD God of Israel declares, ‘I did indeed say that your house and the house of your father should walk before Me forever’; but now the LORD declares, ‘Far be it from Me—for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me will be lightly esteemed.  Behold, the days are coming when I will break your strength and the strength of your father’s house so that there will not be an old man in your house.  You will see the distress of My dwelling, in spite of all the good that I do for Israel;  and an old man will not be in your house forever.  Yet I will not cut off every man of yours from My altar so that your eyes will fail from weeping and your soul grieve, and all the increase of your house will die in the prime of life.  This will be the sign to you which will come concerning your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas:  on the same day both of them will die.  But I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest who will do according to what is in My heart and in My soul;  and I will build him an enduring house, and he will walk before My anointed always.  Everyone who is left in your house will come and bow down to him for a piece of silver or a loaf of bread and say, “Please assign me to one of the priest’s offices so that I may eat a piece of bread.”’”  1 Samuel 2:27-36.

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“He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me;  and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.  And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.  He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.”  Matthew 10:37-39.

Today’s Scripture leads us consider that the LORD’s words for Eli can apply to us today.  It is such an honor and blessing to hear and read and preach and teach Reformed Doctrine.  Yet, too many care more about what others think about them.  They are embarrassed by Reformed Doctrine including election and predestination;  they rather be praised for their social missions.  We need to treasure Reformed Doctrine, and so to speak, be a faithful priest.

“We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat.  For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned outside the camp.  Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate.  So, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach.  For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come.”  Hebrews 13:9-13.

“Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher.  For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed;  for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.  Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.  Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you.”  2 Timothy 1:8-14.

But, there is hope!

Samuel and Jesus were faithful priests. 

And, through God’s work within us, we too can be faithful priests. Take a look again at the words highlighted in bold italic above. First, we think of God the Father when we read: “I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.” Second, we think of God the Son when we read: “Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.” Third, we think of God the Spirit when we read: “Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you.”

“For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.”  2 Timothy 1:7.

“and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” Revelation 1:6.

“You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.” Revelation 5:10.

“But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;  for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD;  you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.”  1 Peter 2:9-10.

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Samuel 2:18-21 and 26.

“Now Samuel was ministering before the LORD, as a boy wearing a linen ephod.  And his mother would make him a little robe and bring it to him from year to year when she would come up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.  Then Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife and say, “May the LORD give you children from this woman in place of the one she dedicated to the LORD.”  And they went to their own home.

The LORD visited Hannah;  and she conceived and gave birth to three sons and two daughters.  And the boy Samuel grew before the LORD.

…

Now the boy Samuel was growing in stature and in favor both with the LORD and with men.”  1 Samuel 2:18-21 and 26.  

———–

Hannah was barren.  “… the LORD had closed her womb.   Her rival (Elkanah’s other wife), however, would provoke her bitterly to irritate her, because the LORD had closed her womb.”  1 Samuel 1:5-6.  

Hannah prayed to the LORD.  “She, greatly distressed, prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly.  She made a vow and said, “O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and a razor shall never come on his head.”  1 Samuel 1:10-11.

The LORD heard the voice of Hannah’s supplication and gave her a son, Samuel.  

But, not only did the LORD give Hannah a son, Samuel, we read in today’s Scripture that the LORD also gave Hannah additional children:  three sons and two daughters, thereby fulfilling (at least figuratively) Hannah’s Song of Thanksgiving earlier in this chapter:  “… Even the barren gives birth to seven, …  1 Samuel 2:5.  

And, the LORD blessed Samuel.  “Samuel was growing in stature and in favor both with the LORD and with men.”  Verse 26.

“19 How great is Your goodness,
Which You have stored up for those who fear You,
Which You have wrought for those who take refuge in You,
Before the sons of men!
20 You hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the conspiracies of man;
You keep them secretly in a shelter from the strife of tongues.
21 Blessed be the LORD,
For He has made marvelous His lovingkindness to me in a besieged city.
22 As for me, I said in my alarm,
“I am cut off from before Your eyes”;
Nevertheless You heard the voice of my supplications
When I cried to You.

23 O love the LORD, all you His godly ones!
The LORD preserves the faithful
And fully recompenses the proud doer.
24 Be strong and let your heart take courage,
All you who hope in the LORD.” Psalm 31:19-24.